Firefighters die in flats blaze

Two firefighters were among three people who died today when a blaze swept through a 17-storey towerblock.

Seven other people were taken to hospital - at least one of those is in a critical condition.

The fire started on the 14th floor at 3am and spread through the block in Stevenage, Hertfordshire.

One firefighter at the scene said: "It was a hell of a fire, very fierce and quick to spread. This is an awful tragedy for everyone involved. I knew the two firefighters who died."

The first some residents knew of the blaze was when firefighters smashed down their front doors to haul them out to safety.

A spokesman for the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Ambulance Trust said of the seven people taken to hospital: "One is in a critical condition and has been taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital at Welwyn Garden City.

"The other six, who include adults and children, have been taken to the Lister Hospital at Stevenage."

Andy Gilchrist, general secretary of the Fire Brigades Union, paid tribute to those who died.

He said: "We are deeply saddened at the loss of our two colleagues who died in the line of duty in Stevenage.

"Our deepest sympathies are with the families of those who died. Our thoughts are also with those who were injured in the fire and their families and we wish them a speedy recovery."

Local resident Bruce Bullock said the fire "ripped through" the H-shaped Harrow Court in Silam Road.

He said the flat where the blaze started, on the northeast corner of the structure, had been burnt out. The fire had also damaged the flats on the floors above, while ash and smoke had blackened the building.

Deputy Chief Fire Officer for Hertfordshire, Roy Wilsher, said: "It's tragic that three people, including two fire officers, have lost their lives. I have been up the scene and it was a particularly severe fire."

Residents paid tribute to the quick action of firefighters. Robert Brown, 54, who lives on the 16th floor, said: "The first I knew it was a real fire was when a sledge hammer came through my front door."